• Candidate for ARRL Northwestern Division Director Disqualified; Tharp Declared Elected

    From ARRL de WD1CKS@VERT/WLARB to QST on Monday, October 14, 2024 22:48:09
    09/30/2024

    Dan Marler, K7REX, the challenger seeking the position of ARRL Northwestern
    Division Director, was declared disqualified Saturday by the ARRL Ethics and
    Elections Committee (E&E). Marler was running against incumbent Mark Tharp,
    KB7HDX. Due to the disqualification, the committee has declared Tharp elected.

    ARRL's election rules state, "All matters concerning campaigns, including
    remedies for issues that arise, will be conclusively determined by the Ethics
    and Elections Committee." According to Southeastern Division Director Mickey
    Baker, N4MB, writing as Chair of and for E&E, the committee responded to a
    complaint received from a member of the Northwestern Division involving
    inaccurate claims made by the candidate that violated ARRL's election rules.
    The rules state that the "standard of truth applies to all campaign material by
    a candidate" and that candidate statements must be "in all material respects,
    truthful and not misleading."

    On September 26, Marler was notified by E&E that a candidate statement he
    issued contained material that the committee deemed was not in compliance with
    the rules. Baker said Marler agreed to correct certain statements and issue
    retractions where necessary to comply with the rules. On September 27, Marler
    was reminded and instructed that the corrections must be made within 24 hours.

    On the evening of September 28, Baker e-mailed a letter to Marler on behalf of
    E&E, noticing him of the decision to disqualify him. Baker said E&E concluded
    that Marler rejected the committee's requests as determined from an additional
    campaign statement that repeated the previous incorrect claims despite being
    told otherwise.

    As voting has already started for the 2024 election cycle, ballots cast for
    Northwestern Division Director will not be considered. Since Tharp is the only
    eligible candidate, E&E has declared him elected.

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